Thursday, December 25, 2008

There are many ways or places where you can purchase your favorite banknotes and add them into your collection. One the the places the I love to hang around searching for valuable banknote is at flea market.

I have mentioned earlier that in Klang Valley the most famous flea market (selling antique items) is located at Amcorp Mall. Many of the antiques and collectible items are displaying every weekend at ground floor till 2nd floor. For banknote collector, one can find many stalls that sell various kind of banknotes from different countries or even offer to buy your collection. All kind of antique notes can be found with reasonable price.

For Penang Island, I have heard numerous times on their flea market at Lorong Kulit and was only able to visit the place over the last weekend during my vocation there. Unlike Amcorp Mall, the Penang flea market is more traditional. It is held at an open car park area. You can see some of the vendors display and sell their goods over a blanket on the floor.

A seller displayed his collection items at flea market Penang

I particular like to visit the flea market because almost all antique things are sold there. Many times you can find the collectors are selling their collectible items which they have kept them for many years. Some of these collectible items are rare to find and are able to offer to you at your affordable price.

Many people have mentioned to me at they have some old banknotes and would like to offer for someone intrested but how can they do it? I think one way is to drop by these flea markets and you will find many dealers are willing to purchase from you if your have nice piece.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

One of the common features of Malaysian Banknote is that they all are printed with Bank Negara's logo on the reverse side of the note. This BNM logo remains the same throughout the all four series. For Malaysian, I think most of us are aware of the the logo design which depicts Kijang Emas, a barking deer in its natural habitat in Malaysian jungle. But not many aware of the story of Kijang Emas.

The BNM logo depicts on the all series of Malaysian banknotes. 1st to 4th Series from left to right.

Indeed, BNM started adopting the Kijang Emas as official logo back in 1964. The motif was actually from the ancient Kelantan gold coins. There were three types of ancient Kelantan gold coins issued namely Kijang coin, Dinar Matahari or Sun coin and coins with Arabic inscriptions on the both sides of the coin.

The story of of Kelantan Kijang coin was associated with Che Siti Wan Kembang, whom believe to a women ruler of Kelantan. According the the legacy, a Kijang was presented to her Majesty by some Arabian traders which later she became very fond to this animal and thereafter had inscribed the Kijang into the Kelantan ancient coin.

Another version of this Kijang coin was in fact associated with the influence of Saivite Hinduism. It was believe that this Kijang coin resembled the Indian humped-back bull. The bull motif was depicted in ancients coin which found to be circulated in the northern Malay states. Many historians believe that the bull motif had been gradually transformed to that of a Kijang.

The ancient Kelantan gold coin depicts the Kijang

Besides the BNM logo, Kijang Emas is also used and known as Malaysian gold bullion coin. Malaysia is the 12th country in the world issued its own gold bullion coin. It was launched in 17 July 2001 by the Bank Negara Malaysia and minted by Royal Mint of Malaysia Sdn Bhd. This Kijang Emas comes in three different face values i.e. RM200 (1 Troy ounce), RM100 (1/2 Troy ounce) and RM50 (1/4 Troy ounce). They are minted with 99.99% pure gold. You may find further information of this Kijang Emas coin at Bank Negara's website or other commercial websites such as Maybank.

Welcome To My Blog

Welcome to my blog. This blog provides and updates you on information that relates to Malaysian currency and other Southeast Asian currency. There are many ordinary collectors around the world that just like you and me. However, there aren't many blogs that share the story and history of banknote or coin. I hope to share with you a little information of Malaysia and Southeast Asian country's currency.

Collecting banknote has been my hobby since many years ago. I enjoy viewing the unique design and color of each banknote or coin. One of my excitements is to get know of the MALAYSIA and other Asian countries' history through collecting banknotes /paper money and coins.

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All images, photos or resources published in Malaysian Banknotes are used for discussion and educational reference only. They are not meant for commercial purposes. These images, photos and resources might be obtained through private or commercial websites/publications. If you think that those materials are belongs to your copyright, please inform the author and it shall be removed accordingly. Everyone is free to read and use all materials or resources published in this blog for educational purposes.